1925 Fort Vancouver Centennial Commemorative Half Dollar

About This Coin

The 1925 Fort Vancouver Centennial Commemorative Half Dollar is a United States commemorative half dollar. Issued in 1925 to commemorate the centennial of the establishment of Fort Vancouver in present-day Washington state. Dr. John McLoughlin administered the fort as a fur-trading post for the Hudson's Bay Company and later assisted American settlers, earning him the title 'Father of Oregon.' The obverse features a bust of Dr. John McLoughlin, chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Vancouver, known as the 'Father of Oregon', while the reverse displays a frontiersman standing with a musket, with Fort Vancouver in the background. Designed by Laura Gardin Fraser. Struck in 90% silver, 10% copper, weighing 12.5 grams, 30.6 mm in diameter, with a reeded edge. The Fort Vancouver Half Dollar had a low mintage of just 14,994 pieces, making it one of the scarcer classic commemoratives. Its Pacific Northwest subject matter and Laura Gardin Fraser's skillful design contribute to its desirability.